Thank you guys for all of the great reviews!!!!! It's been really inspiring!!
By the way, thanx to FrustratedPhoenix for pointing out that I made a mistake. In feudal Japan, there were no lights.
What can I say: Sesshoumaru's a demon ahead of the times!!!!! Hehe.
Anyway, on to the next chapter.
Chapter Three
The miko's strange scent woke the demon for the second consecutive time. Looking at its origin, Sesshoumaru saw the petite form of the young woman curled up in his chair, muttering what he thought to be his half-brother's name.
He pushed himself into a sitting position only to receive a tremendous shock. The Taiyoukai sat still, too stunned to move. A very slight smile played on his lips as he flexed the muscles of his newly-regenerated left arm. He then turned to the girl as he realized what must have happened.
'Why would this girl do this for me? She isn't like any other human or miko I have ever come across.' He stood up in order to stretch his sore and weak muscles before returning his gaze to the sleeping miko. 'Hm. Maybe I should be more hospitable.'
Sesshoumaru took a moment to observe the sleeping girl. Her silken raven hair framed her thin face, with some covering her eyes which, when opened, shone with an unusually vibrant gray hue. She was very slight, yet was at the same time, apparently quite strong in both body and spirit. Remembering the previous night, he knew that she had a fire unlike any human to ever cross his path. She was obviously afraid of him since he could smell it, yet she refused to let it show.
'She's quite attractive for a human as well,' he thought as he, for some reason, began pacing. His gaze, however, was broken when the door opened, revealing Rojin.
"How are you this morning, Neph-"His voice cut out as he stared at his nephew's recently acquired limb. "When-"
"When I awoke." He turned toward Kagome. "I believe that it was the miko." 'Kagome', he suddenly thought. "Kagome," he mumbled under his breath.
"What are you doing up, anyway? We agreed on bed rest."
"I was going to wash at the spring."
"Then I shall accompany you. There is something that I wish to discuss with you now that I have your undivided attention." Nodding, he grabbed what he needed and, with his uncle's assistance, left for the spring.
Kagome woke to an empty room that she didn't recognize at all.
"Where am I?" Realization hit. 'That's right. This is Sesshoumaru's room. He had a high fever and I ended up giving him his arm back. Why? I have no idea.'
Getting up, Kagome decided that she wanted to take a bath in order to clear her head. The young miko gathered her things and stepped into the hallway but stopped, suddenly remembering that she had no idea whatsoever where she should go. She had just a corner when she collided with someone.
"Oh! I'm so sorry," she apologized.
"There's no need for that. It was partly my fault for not sensing you," she replied. "You must be the lady miko."
"I am, but call me Kagome."
"I am Kira, Lady Kagome," she bowed.
"No Lady, just plain old Kagome. And you don't need to bow."
"Alright Kagome. Master Rojin has ordered me to be your personal servant for the duration of your stay."
"You don't have to."
"But I do not mind in the least. I usually serve stuck up and arrogant youkai, but it would be a pleasure to serve you."
"I see. You usually serve Sesshoumaru. He has to be tops on the arrogant meter." The two laughed. "Anyway, do you happen to know where I can bathe?"
"Sure. That would be the spring. Let me guide you there."
"Thank you so much. I would have gotten lost in like, .2 seconds."
The two had just arrived when they heard voices. Kagome recognized them immediately.
"Oh! Kira, let's go."
"You are not going anywhere until you answer a few questions," the Taiyoukai's voice called.
"I suppose we shall take our leave. Shall we go, Miss Kira?" Rojin asked.
"Yessir," she replied as the pair left the miko with the demon.
'Why do I feel like Little Red Riding Hood talking to the Big Bad Wolf?' she thought suddenly.
"Come to the edge, Girl. I do not wish to yell," he stated. "I believe we agree that it would not be healthy for either of us, correct?"
Slowly, Kagome walked over to the spring and sat down, refusing to look, knowing that his state of undress would cause a severe blush. In turn, Sesshoumaru noticed this, finding it quite entertaining.
"Are you, um, feeling better, Sesshoumaru?"
He nodded. "This illness, or enchantment, has compromised my vision to that of a normal human's, but that is the extent. That medicine of yours is interesting. What is it?"
"It's called aspirin. I brought it from my time."
"Your time?" His eyes shone with confusion. "Explain."
"Um, I actually live 500 years in the future in Tokyo, Japan"
"Toh-key-oh?" She nodded. "One final question."
"Yes?"
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did you regenerate my arm? As I recall, I have made many attempts on your life in the past."
"Technically, you tried to kill Inuyasha, not me."
"The question stands."
"I don't know why I did it. Maybe because I felt sorry for you, or maybe for a reason that I don't fully understand myself."
Anger appeared on his attractive face as his gilded orbs narrowed. "I do not need your pity, Human."
"Pity and sympathy are two entirely different things." A moment of silence passed before she spoke again. "Sesshoumaru?"
"Yes?"
"Rojin said something strange to me."
"And that would be?"
"It has to do with you treating me rudely due to the fact that I am a miko."
He growled before replying. "And let me guess. You wish for me to tell you why."
"You don't have to. I was only curious."
"Good, because my private matters shall remain as such."
Kagome looked on as the Demon Lord slowly slipped underwater, wetting his silver mane. Unable to resist, she tapped him on the shoulder.
"What now?" he growled.
"Well, um, I was wondering if I could wash your hair. It's so gorgeous and I've wanted to touch it forever." She explained. 'Great, Kagome. Like he doesn't think you're weird enough already.'
His eyebrows arched before he sighed in resignation. "Do as you will."
She clapped, squealing. "Really?!" He nodded. Okay. Just let me grab a couple of things."
'Things?' he thought as she scurried to her bag, pulling out two bottles. She knelt down behind him and squirted out a healthy amount of one of the bottle's contents into her hand, which he grabbed as it neared him.
"What is that?"
"It's called shampoo. It's made to clean hair, along with conditioner. Smell it if you doubt me," she said, holding her hand out toward him.
He breathed in the concoction's scent, recognizing the odors of orange blossom and jasmine above all.
"Satisfied?"
"Hold your tongue, Woman."
She rolled her eyes at him. "My name, is-"
"Kagome. Yes, I believe you have mentioned it."
"If you know it, why do you refuse to use it?"
"I address allies and guests by name. You are neither."
"Kagome forcibly pushed down the anger when he had said such a thing to her. "Then what am I?"
"A distraction."
That reply would have angered her to the core had it not been for a miniscule thought tugging at her mind:
'If I'm a distraction, then does that mean he thinks about me?' She smiled and began to work the shampoo into the demon's hair.
"Everyone needs distractions, Sesshoumaru."
He was about to respond when Kagome's long fingers began massaging his scalp. An involuntary purr-like growl escaped form the recesses of his throat, which caused his muscles to relax and his eyes to slowly close.
'What magic is this mere slip of a woman using on me?' The only person to ever make him relax that completely had been the former Lady of the Western Lands, his mother.
Smirking at his reaction, she leaned close. "Keep your eyes closed. It sucks if this stuff gets into your eyes when I rinse it out." Kagome filled a bucket with water and poured it over his head in order to wash it out. She then repeated the process with the conditioner. "Did you enjoy that?"
What gave you that idea?"
"Maybe the sounds you were making."
'Sounds?' he wondered to himself. 'Was I so relaxed that I did that unconsciously?'
Shaking it off, Sesshoumaru turned toward the miko, who was currently playing with his hair, running her fingers through it.
"Leave."
Her hands stopped mid way through. "Excuse me?"
"Leave. I need to get out."
"Then I'll help you."
"Human, you can barely look at me now, with a bare chest. How exactly are you going to handle seeing my lower body?"
Her face blanched, then blushed at the fact that he noticed her discomfort. "Oh. Um, good point. I'll just wait until you're dressed."
She turned around as the Taiyoukai rose. As he was dressing, she decided to ask him a question.
"Sesshoumaru?"
"What is it?"
"How did Rin come to travel with you?"
He paused. "She was killed by wolves and I decided to test the powers of Tenseiga."
"How long ago was that?"
"When that bastard half-brother used the Wind Scar on me."
"That long ago? Wow." It was then that she noticed the tall demon looming, leaning against a tree for balance. "Where to?"
"I do not need help. Especially from you."
"Swallow your pride and just accept my help."
"I have a human's sight and I can barely walk. My pride is a priority right now."
"Yeah, well I think that your pride needs to be knocked down a few notches."
She winced as she heard his knuckles crack. She also saw his hand take on a dull green glow.
"Would you care to repeat that, Human?"
"Huh? Repeat what? I didn't say anything."
"I thought so."
"How about this: I'll accompany you back. If you feel any pain, just lean on me. I promise not to tell a living soul."
"It isn't like I have much of a choice. Very well, I suppose." She gathered her belongings and began walking slowly back to their rooms, not wanting him to overexert himself.
The two were almost to Sesshoumaru's room when Kagome heard a low growl. Turning, she saw the Taiyoukai leaning most of his weight against a wall, sweating from the movement. The teen ran over and slung his arm around her shoulder while securing hers around his waist, taking on some of the weight that he was having difficulties carrying.
"Come on. We're nearly there. What's wrong?"
He hesitated before answering. "My eyes and chest."
"Can you see at all?"
"Barely."
She helped him into his room and went for a wet cloth as he lay down, draping his arm across his face, covering his eyes. When she returned, Kagome took his arm and moved it, replacing it with the cloth. She then placed two pills into his hand.
"Take these. They should help with the chest pain." He obliged. "Just rest for awhile. The pills should also help you sleep. If you need anything else, I'll be across the hall." With that, she left.
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"Where am I?" Kagome wondered aloud.
Looking around, she realized that she was in Sesshoumaru's castle. Or at least it certainly looked like his castle, only it was much more lively. There were humans and demons alike scattered throughout the halls and it was impeccably decorated.
Just then, a cry drew her attention.
"Young Sir, your parents are quite busy at the moment. Young Sir!"
As the servant and his master rounded the corner, Kagome was taken aback by the Young Sir, who was only a pup.
"How do I know that pup? He seems so familiar to me somehow."
"You know him, because he is I," growled a deep yet silken voice from behind her.
She shivered at his closeness before turning to look at the demon.
"S-Sesshoumaru?"
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